The EU vaccination certificate officially starts on July 1st.
This makes a lot of things easier on vacation, provided that the countries have made sure that it can be read out.
Brussels - Shortly before the official start of the EU vaccination certificate, all EU countries are connected to the common technology required for this.
This also applies to Norway and Iceland, as can be seen from an overview by the EU Commission. Upon request, the EU Commission confirmed that it is possible to read a certificate issued in Germany about a vaccination, a fresh test or a survived infection via a QR code. Each country determines where the certificates facilitate vacations, shopping trips or weekend trips.
The EU Covid certificate will formally start on July 1st, but many countries have been issuing them for weeks.
According to current figures from the Ministry of Health, 37.3 million vaccination certificates have already been issued in Germany alone.
The EU agreed on the design of the evidence in an unusually fast pace of just a few months.
Only a handful of states have not yet issued them.
These include Sweden, Malta and Ireland.
A corresponding certificate should make things a lot easier for German holidaymakers abroad.
Anyone traveling to Greece over the age of twelve needs proof of a fresh test, a vaccination that is at least two weeks old or an infection that was survived less than nine months ago.
The certificates are also accepted in the EU island state, Republic of Cyprus.
In Italy, according to government sources, people can use the vaccination certificate to go to public events.
Proof is also important for traveling within Italy, namely when going to a region that is considered to be a corona zone with a higher risk of infection, or when returning from there.
In neighboring Switzerland, only people with proof of vaccination can take part in major events with more than 1000 people.
Discotheques can also request such certificates.
The regulations are different in the cantons.
In some places bars and restaurants, trade fairs, sports facilities, theaters or museums are free to decide whether they require vaccination certificates.
The QR code makes it much easier to access bars, hotels, leisure facilities and events in the Alpine Republic of Austria.
It applies everywhere that guests have to be recovered, vaccinated or tested.
If the validity of a test expires while on vacation, tourists can also use official test roads free of charge.
France's European Minister Clément Beaune announced on Monday via Twitter that the French health passport on the TousAntiCovid app now has a European format.
From July 1st, the code will be recognized everywhere in the EU in order to be able to "travel freely" - vaccinated or with a test.
The evidence is also helpful in Germany's eastern neighborhood: Anyone who enters Poland from the Federal Republic and can show a vaccination certificate does not have to be in quarantine for ten days after entry. This also applies to those who have recovered and those who have arrived with a negative test result. Hotels and restaurants are only allowed to work with 75 percent occupancy - vaccinated and convalescent people are not counted. This can mean that the hotel still has a room or the restaurant has a table free if you have a vaccination certificate.
The situation is similar in Bulgaria. Entry into the holiday destination on the Black Sea is possible for those who have been vaccinated, those who have been tested and those who have recovered from Covid-19 without the obligation to quarantine. The Czech Republic has already recognized the yellow German vaccination book. With the introduction of the EU vaccination certificate, it should be used instead. Whoever wants to visit a hotel or restaurant has to be vaccinated, tested or recovered. There are no longer any requirements for the actual entry from Germany.
The Netherlands has already taken a big step back to a public life with almost no corona restrictions. Almost all measures introduced in the wake of the pandemic have been lifted since Saturday. The only central rule is the safety distance of 1.5 meters. If this - such as in a disco - cannot be adhered to, access is only possible with test or vaccination proof.
In Germany's northernmost neighbor, the fourth and final phase of the eased travel restrictions came into force on Saturday. With the introduction of the EU Corona passport, it will again be possible for Danes to take summer holidays in Europe and at the same time to welcome holidaymakers in Denmark. From Wednesday, the entry restrictions in Sweden are to be changed: From then on it will also be possible to enter the Scandinavian country by showing the digital EU certificate. dpa
